In response to the many emails she has received on unaccompanied refugee children in Europe, Theresa Villiers has issued the following statement about the Government’s decision to accept the Dubs amendment on this issue.
“I would like to thank all the constituents who took time to contact me on this important question.
In response to the many representations it received, including from those who contacted their local MP, the Government decided to accept the revised Lord Dubs amendment. It is now consulting with local authorities before setting out a plan for resettling Syrian refugee children in Europe to the UK. Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children will be resettled from Greece, Italy and France, following discussions between the Government and Save the Children.
Throughout the migrant crisis, the Government has adopted a twin-track approach to dealing with the migrant crisis: helping the most vulnerable, while seeking to avoid any measures which would encourage more people to make perilous crossings to Europe.
This latest initiative builds on the announcement that up to 3,000 vulnerable children and family members will be resettled direct from the Middle East and North Africa. It adds to the ongoing work to bring 20,000 people direct from Syrian refugee communities, many of whom have already arrived in the UK. The Government is also using its very significant overseas aid budget to support refugees in the region.
Under the new arrangements, resettlement will be restricted to children registered before the EU migration agreement with Turkey came into force on 20th March. The retrospective nature of the scheme is designed to avoid creating a perverse incentive for families to entrust their children to people traffickers and life-threatening sea crossings.
It will also mean that the UK can focus on the most vulnerable children already in Europe without encouraging more to make the journey. Those at risk of trafficking or exploitation will be prioritised for resettlement, while existing family reunion routes will be accelerated. It is important to note that this will be separate to any EU-administered resettlement schemes.
There is not a fixed number for arrivals, but instead the Government will work with local authorities across the UK to determine how many children will be resettled. First arrivals are expected before the end of the year. No country has done more than Britain when it comes to helping Syrian refugees, and this help will continue."